Knitting machine



Jan. 5, 1937. H. McADAMs KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1932 1o sheets-sheet -1 INVENTOR.

Flc-af, 4.

Herr-H McAdams Md ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1937.

H. MCADAMS KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 BCYZ; i@ u@ ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 5, 1937. H. MCADAMS y ,oelf'A KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1932 1o sheets-sheet s FIG. 3.

JZ NVETOR. 55 er1-'1d McAdams ATTORN EYS.

Jam 5,1937. H. McADAMs" 2,066,845

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 2s, 1952 10 sheets-sheet 4 FIG. 6.

,I INVENTOR.

E" WM 55 ATTORNEYS.

Jari. 5, 1937. H. MGADAMS 2,066,845

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVENTOR.

Jan. 5,. 1937. H, MCADAMS 2,066,845

KNITT ING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1932 l 1o sheets-shea e BY l M M ATTORNEYS.

INVENTOR.

Jan. 5, 1937. H. MCADAMS 2,066,845

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. 16.

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INVENTOR.

HELPFH McAdams BY ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1937. H. MCADAMS 2,066,845

KNITTING MACHINE' l Filed June 28, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

Har-TB McAdams BCQQWM Y ATTORNEYS.

Jam.I 5, 1937. H. MCADAMS 2,066,845

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1932 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. Harr MCAdamE BY I c u: am www /w ATTORNEYS.

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FIG 18 H. McADAMs 2,066,845

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1932 lOSheets-Sheet lO Jan. 5, 1937.

` l ATTORNEYS.

Patented minn.. ild? KNETTENG Marry Meddanis, Reading, Fa., assignor'to Nolde and Horst ompany, Reading, Fa., a corporation implication .Func 2d, 11932, Seriali No. 619,779

d Claims.

riihis invention relates to improvements in knitting machines.

The primary object of thisinvention is the provision of an improved knitting machine which will produce knitted fabric having incorporated plated stripes and designs.

A furthercbject of this invention is the provision of an improved knitting machine which will produce knitted fabric with incorporated plated designs of multi-colored yarns similar to the machine set forth in my co-pending application, Serial` Number 591,689, filed February 8, 1932, but which is relatively simpler than the machine of said application from the `standpoint of structure, operation, and accessibility of fabric and parts.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved knitting machine whereon knitted fabric, such as hosiery, may be knitted with incorporated lplated. designs of multicolored yarn wherein colored plating yarns are knitted in the same courses as other contrastingly colored plating yarns, using the needle wrapping method.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and vwherein similar ref- -erence characters designate corresponding parts Figure 3 is a. vertical sectional view taken through the bcbbin stand showing more `particularly the yarn feeding members and the mounting of the bobbin stand. upon the conventional latch ring. i

- Figure 4 is a sectional view taken "substantially' on the line d-t of Figure 11 through diderent yarn feeding members than those shown in section in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the relation of yarn feed arm or member and plating yarn restraining wire with respect to the needle of the knitting yarn which is elevated to receive the yarn in needle Wrapped, relation thereon. i

Y Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the knitting machine cylinder, showing (er. cts-ies) more particularly the yarn guide vwireancl its actuating means for restraining the yarn in order that the elevated needle of the cylinder will receive the saine; the view .also showing needle v.actuating cam means for selective elevation of 5 relative mounting upon the knitting machine 15 latch ring and associated parts; the view being taken substantially on the line @-9 of Figure 3.

4Figure l0 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line illi@ of Figure 3.

Figure 11 is a sectional view ,similar to Figure 20 10, but showing the yarn feed arm actuating4 cam in yarn feed arm extending position.

Figure 12 is a bottom plan'view of the base portion of the bobbin stand upon which the yarn feed arms are slidably mounted.

25 Y Figure 13 is a sectional view taken through the improved knitting machine showing Vmore particularly the yarn feed arm actuating means and a pattern control drum actuating mechanism.

Figure 11i is a fragmentary developed view 30 showing the lug arrangement upon thepattern cam control drum for the actuating of cams in order to manipulate in a selective manner the needlesr of the cylinder for production of the wrapped needle plated designs shown in Figure g Figure 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line ib-it of Figure 3 showing the upper set of plating yarn feed arms and' the actuating cam thereof in an active position. n)

Figure 16 is a sectional view similar to Figure 15 4but showing the actuating cam in position for needle yarn feed positioning ofithe yarn feed arms of the upper set.

Figure 17 isa view on a developed plane of au the needle set and cooperating series of jacks in associated relation with a series of yarn guide or controlling arms or members, Aand the jack, needle, and yarn feed arm operating cams for Figure 18 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing by way of example one type of plated design which may be knitted in the fabric by the improved machine shown in Figures 1 to 17 inelusive.

the knitting of the fabric shown in Figure 18.

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line l9|9 of Figure 7, and showing more particularly the base construction of the rotary part of the needle stand upon which the yarn feed arms are slidably mounted.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary view on a developed plane of the needle set and cooperating series of jacks in associated relation with a series of yarn guide arms, and the jack, needle and yarn feed arm operating cams for the knitting of the plated fabric shown in Figure 21.

Figure 21 is a type of knitted fabric wherein the plated design or striping is produced in the fabric without knitting different plating colors within the same courses, and thereby enabling a simpler arrangement of actuating cams and jacks than is necessary for the knitting of the color within color plated designs such as shown in Figure 18.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred and modified forms of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved knitting machine, which may include a frame B, cylinder C, means D for operating the cylinder and driving the machine, a set of needles E, a set of jacks F to actuate the needles E, means G to actuate the jacks, a yarn controlling device H for wrapping the yarns upon the needles of the machine, and means K for actuating the yarn guide arms or members of the means H. By way of example fabrics L and M are shown respectively in Figures 18 and 21, but it is to be understood that a wide variety of designs and plated patterns or stripings may be produced in knitted fabrics upon the improved machine by utilizing a re-arrangement of jack butts thereon, and actuating cams therefor, a: 'will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure herein set forth.

The knitting machine is of the Banner type generally disclosed in U. S. Patent 933,443, and its operation includes many of the characteristics of the plating design knitting machine set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 591,689 above mentioned, but is relatively simpler in operation and structural assemblage. The frame B is provided with a supporting bed 20 upon which the cylinder C-is rotatably mounted, as shown in Figure 2. The cylinder rotating and oscillating means is of the usual arrangement for hosiery knitting machines of this type. The cylinder C is driven off the main shaft 2 I, shown in Figure 13, by the usual bevel gear arrangement shown at 22 in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The cylinder C may be 4of the special construction described in my co-pending application above referred to. It is provided with needle grooves 26 therein, which are' relatively deep in order to adapt the cylinder for the reverse plating of body knitting yarns as set forth in my co-pending application Serial Number 586,- 635, filed January 14, 1932, although in the example shown herein only one main yarn is used to produce the knitting of the main web of the fabric. The needles 32 of the set E are of the latch type, substantially half of them having long butts 40 and the remainder having shorter butts 4I; the former being designated in full ,black-in Figures 17 and 20 of the drawings.

The jacks 3| of the set F are of the construction described in my co-pending application Serial No. 591,689 above mentioned, in that each of them is provided with a body having a piurality of frangible butts in spaced relation at the lower end thereof before alteration, to suit the pattern being knitted. Preferably six of these butts are provided on each jack, and any or all of them may be snapped off at the juncture thereof with the shank of the jack, or at any place along the length of the butt either to remove the same or make the same into a butt of desired length. Thus, each jack may be provided with any butt arrangement desired in order to selectively control the actuation of predetermined needles for receiving the plating yarns, as will be subsequently described.

The jack actuating means G preferably includes a pair of supporting blocks 50 and 5|, shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and in detail shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. Each of these blocks is provided with a vertical series of horizontal slots therethrough preferably radial to the cylinder C. They are attached upon the bed 20 of the machine, and the slots 52 thereof slidably receive flat horizontally elongated and positioned cams which are slidable into and out of butt engaging and jack actuating relation. Any number of slots may be provided in the blocks 50 and 5I. For the knitting of the plated pattern shown in Figure 18 the block 50 is slidably provided with cams 53, 54, 55, 56, and 51, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings; the cam 51 being lowermost. The block 5I is provided with three cams 58, 59, and 60, best shown in Figure 17 of the drawings. These cams 53 to 60 inclusive are provided with angularly inclined cam heads positioned at different levels for engaging butts of the jacks which approach that level so as to elevate the jacks having butts at that level in order to place the hook ends of the needles in position so that the plating yarn feeds of the bobbin stand H may wrap particular plating yarns thereon. The cams 53 to 60 inclusive are so positioned that they will only actuate upon the long butts of the special series of jacks; these long butts being designated in solid black in Figure 17 of the drawings, and the special jack series being designated at X and Y in Figure 1'1. The slidable jack cams have springs 6|]a which normally urge the sloping heads thereof into the path of movement of the long butts of the jacks of special series X and Y during cylinder rotation.

In each of the series X and Y the central jack 3la is provided with an upper long butt 44. At each side thereof the jacks 3|b are provided with long butts 45 at the next lower butt level. Adjacent each of the butt jacks 3lb are jacks 3|c which have long butts 46 at the next lower butt level. Adjacent each of the butt jacks 3|c are jacks 3ld which have long butts 41 at the next lower level, and the outermost jacks 3lc of each series X and Y are provided with long butts 48 at the next lower level. The camsr 53` 54, 55, 56, and 51 are respectively in position to actuate the butts 44 to 48 inclusive. The cams 5B, 59, and 60 are respectively in position to actuate the jacks having butts 44, 45, and 46, as can readily be understood fromv Figure 1'7 of the drawings.

The jack actuating means G furthermore includes a pattern control drum 6|, shown in Figure 13 of the drawings, rotatably mounted upon the machine frame at 62 in any approved manner. This drum has a plurality of lugs on the periphery thereof intended to actuate a system of levers for selective control of the various cams 53 to 60 inclusive. The drum 6I is actuated in a step-by-step motion off the 104 gear of the u machine which is designated at 23 in Figure 13, and as has more specifically been described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 558.798, filed August 22, 1931. The lugs are detachably applied uponthe drum 6| in any well known manner.

It will onlybe necessary to briefly describe the actuation of cams in the blocksjll and 5| inasmuch as the actuating mechanism to be used is substantially the same as Ithat described in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 586,- 635 and Serial No. 591,689, particularly with respect to the latter application. AThe drum 6| has a fixed ratchet wheel 64 provided with teeth around the circumference thereof, preferably 60 in number. 'Ihe 104 gear wheel 23 rotates once for every four revolutions of the cylinder C, and since it is intended to advance the drum 6| one tooth length for each two revolutions of the cylinder C, the gear wheel 23 is provided with diametrically opposed lugs 65 positioned to engage a pivoted lever 66, shown in Figure y11i of the drawings for actuating a pawl 69 upon the teeth 64 of the drum. A spring 10 maintains the lever 66 in position for step-by-step advancement of the drum.

Means is provided to cut out the pattern mechanism at desired intervals, which is accomplished by the mechanism more specifically described in the above identified co-pending applications through the throwing of the pawl actuating lever 66 out of the path of engagement with the lugs 65. This mechanism, which will not herein be further described, is generally designated at 12 in the drawings. Y

Referring to the yarn controlling device H, by means of which the plating or design providing yarns are wrapped upon predeterminedv needles, the same is entirely mounted upon the conventional latch ring R ofv the machine A, as is shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, and elsewhere. 'I'his arrangement H includes a rotary bobbin stand 15 which consists of a central vertical shaft 16 having a bobbin shelf 11 keyed therewith at 18, and upon which a plurality of bobbins 19 are mounted in usual relation.

The shaft 16 is provided with a sleeve 80 at thef lower end thereof; said sleeve 89 at its upper end having an enlarged annular flange which is keyed at 8| (see Figurev2) to the shaft 16.

The lower end of the shaft 16 is provided with an .attaching block 82, shown best in Figure 19 ofl the drawings, to the bottom of which is detachably connected a 'disc 83,. by bolts 84. This disc 83 slidablysupports a pair of substantially opposed reciprocable yarn feed arms or members 90 and 9|, and a second pair of similar yarn feed members 92 and 93 in parallelism with the first mentioned pair of said members. Generally, these yarn feed members receive the different colored yarnsfrom the bobbin stand 15 `rand are cam actuated, in a manner to be subsequently described, in order to position the yarns upon predetermined selected needles of the needle set ,as they are elevated by the means G. I

and yarn feed arm mechanism, which consists `of a hub 91, shownbest in Figure 3 of the drawings, having radial arms 98 extending outwardly therel from; the latter being releasably secured by posts 99 upon the latch ring R, so that said hub is space'd above the latch ring, as will be apparent from the drawings. The hub 91 has a depending detachable sleeve secured therewith by means of bolts |02, as shown in Figure 3; the sleeve ||l| providing additional bearing for rotatably receiving the sleeve 80 therein. The lower end of the sleeve |0| is provided with an annular cam supporting flange |05, which is adapted to support on the upper surface thereof a cam for actuating one pair of the yarn feed arms and on the lower surface a second cam for actuating the second pair of yarn feed arms.

An important feature of the invention is .the

simplicity of drive of the bobbin stand. The

knitting machine is of the rotary cylinder type, and the bobbin stand and yarn feed guides are rotated at the same linear velocity as the cylinder.

. To that end the cylinder C is provided on the inner surface thereof at the top with a sleeve H0, xed'therein in any approved manner, which 'is provided with a short radially extending lug ill.

The rotary yarn feed guide supporting discv 83 rounded and finished smooth in order to prevent injury to the fabric which is pulled downward into the cylinder by suitable take-up mechanism,

between the lug ||I|- and linger H2.` In practice it is found that this means of driving the bobbin stand direct from the cylinder will not injure or interfere with the finest of knitted fabrics.

Referring further to the yarn feed guides 90 `to 93 inclusive, each of the same has a spring i Hl normally drawing the guide radially inward into a retracted position with respect to the yarn feed upon the needles. Referring to Figures 15 and 16 a yarn feed guide projecting cam |15 is pivotally mounted at H6 upon the top of the flange |05 above described, which is normally spring retracted at |16, and which may be projected in a manner to be subsequently described, into the path of rotation of a horizontal arm portion |i1 provided on each of the yarn feed guides 90 and 9i in order to forwardly project the yarn feed arms into needle wrapping position; Figure.. 16 showing the yarn feed guide 9| projected into this position by the cam H5. It is noted that the guides 92 and 93 do not have any portion which will engage the cam H5, so that in retracted or projected positions of the cam H5, there will be no actuation ofthe guides 92 and 93 thereby.

Referring to Figures 10 and 1l it will be noted `that a cam |29 is pivoted at |2|; this pivoting being upon the under-surface of the flange |05 (see Figure 3). The cam |20is normally spring retracted at |22. The other set of yarn feed may be provided. In the example above described similar colored yarns are fed from two of the bobbins 19 to the needles through the yarn feed guides 90 and 9|, and differently colored yarns are fed from the other two bobbins 19 to the needles through the yarn guide members 92 and 93. With this arrangement clocking stripes or plated designs in two colors may be provided on the body of the hosiery being knitted, as is quite apparent. It is of course within the contemplation of this invention that any number of yarn feed guides may be provided upon the rotary plating yarn control, for operation by each of the cams I |5 and |20, in order to produce stripes or designs throughout the circumference of the stocklng. It is also within the scope of the invention to add at different levels other feed arms and operating cams to enable additional colored yarns to be knitted in with the other colored yarns, so that a considerable number of contrastingly colored yarns may be produced in the stripe or plated design. Referring now to the means for throwing the cams ||5 and |20 into and out of operation, a pair of vertical oscillating shafts |26 andl21 are provided, which bear at their upper ends in a bracket secured, as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, on the arms 98 ofthe stationary portion of the bobbin stand construction; said shafts at their lower ends bearing in the flange |05. At their lower ends the shafts |26 and |21 are respectively provided with lever arms |30 and 13|, as shown in Figures 10, 11, 15, and 16 of the drawings, which actuate behind the cams I5 and |20 respectively, in order to project said cams against their normal spring action when the yarn feed guides 90 to 93 inclusive are to be projected for yarn wrapping of the needles. At their upper ends above the bracket |25 the shafts |26 and |21 are provided with radially extending arms |33 and |34 which through adjustable connecting rods |35 and |36 are connected to the upper ends of special levers |38 and |39. These levers |38 and |39 are pivoted on a shaft |40 which is secured in the carrier ring offset |4| provided on the conventional knitting machine for receiving yarn feed levers. In fact, adjacent to the levers |38 and |39 a yarn feed lever |42 is pivoted at |43 for receiving the main knitting yarn |45, as shown in Figure 2, for feed in usual knitting relation to the cylinder needles. Springs are employed against the levers |38 `and |39 to force them in such direction that. the cam actuating levers |30 and |3| will normally lie inoperative as shown in Figures 10 and 15 of the drawings To selectively move the levers |30 and |3| into yarn feed guide cam projecting relation, a drum |5| is rotatably mounted at |52 upon a standard |53 of the knitting machine, which has keyed therewith a ratchet wheel |54. 'I'he drum |5| may be selectively provided with lugs |56`for actuating levers |58 and |59. These levers |58 and |59 pivot at |60 on the frame of the knitting machine, and through other levers |6| the levers |38 and |39 above described may be actuated. f

Pattern control means regulates movement of the drum |51. This is of conventional construction and briefly includes a 'reciprocating pawl |65 having a pawl head actuating on the teeth of the ratchet wheel |54; the lower end of the pawl being pivoted, as shown in Figure 13, at |61, to an end of a cam actuat-ed lever |68 which is pivoted at |69. The other end of the lever |68 is actuated by four cams provided upon a ringshaped cam |10 which is placed upon the ccnventional 104 tooth gear of this type of knitting machine. Since four of these cams are provided on the ring |10 the pawl |65 will advance the ratchet wheel and drum |5| one tooth for each revolution of the knitting machine cylinder, as the latter rotates four times for every revolution of the conventional 104 tooth gear.

Means is provided to normally maintain the pawl |65 inoperative until tripped by the pattern control mechanism. This means consists of a pivoted pawl holder |15 shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, which thru a lever mechanism |16 is pivoted to an end of a lever |11, shown in Figure 13. The latter lever is spring actuated at |18 so that the end at the opposite side of the pivot thereof from the lever arrangement |16 is normally pressed against the pattern control chain |80 in order that lugs |8| on the latter may rock the lever |11 and release the pawl holder. This pawl holder |15, as shown in Figure 2, normally engages in a notch |82 at the upper end of the pawl |65 to hold the pawl end of the pawl in such 'position that it will not engage upon the teeth of the ratchet wheel for advancement, since in that position the lever |68 will be held out of cam actuation. However, as soon as one of the lugs |8| of the pattern control chain |80 trips the lever |11, the pawl holder |15 will be thrown out of operation and the spring |83, shown in Figure 2, will draw the pawl |65 upwardly into such position that a cam on the ring |10 may actuate against the lever |68 and pull the pawl |65 downwardly for advancing the ratchet wheel |54, in a manner which is perfectly apparent. After this advancement the pawl holder |15 snaps into the notch |82 and holds the pawl |65 inoperative until another lug |8| on the pattern chain trips the same. Of course any desired number of lugs |8| may be provided, depending upon the number of yarn changes desired in the stripe or plated design being knitted.

The yarns for producing the stripe or plate designs are assisted in being wrapped upon the needles in a mannery quite similar to that set forth in my application Serial No. 591,689. That is, as shown in Figures 5, 9, and 17 of the drawings, and elsewhere, a guide wire or member |90 is attached upon the carrier ring R of the machine, having a curved bar portion extending closely along the inside of the line of needles at a location just below or about even the hook ends of the needles, when the latter are lowered, in order to prevent the plating yarns from becoming entangled with sinkers and other needles than those intended. Each series of yarn finger actuating cams, as represented by the cams within the cam blocks 50 and 5| above described, is provided on the carrier ring R with a cooperative yarn guide bar or member |9| which is mounted upon a plunger |92 slidable in a bearing |93 on the latch ring R,Aas shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. These yarn guide members |9| are provided with springs |94 normally tending to retract the said yarn guide members |9| to an inoperative position. The plunger portions |92 thereof are non-rotatable in the bearings |93 and maintained so by means of radial projections |96 sliding in guide slots provided in the ends of the bearings |93, as shown in various views of the drawings. Wires |948l prevent the pins from slipping out of their slots.

The yarn guide wires |9| may be simultanea ously operated by a lever mechanism actuated off a pattern control drumor the like. A preferred arrangement is to provide a bell crank lever 200 accuses Y pivoteol at 200a upon the frame of the knitting machine. It has a segment 2011a at the upper end thereof, which as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings slidably bears against the head ends of the plungers of the yarn guide wires l2l. Upon upward movement of the lever 200 the yarn guide wires lill will be fed inwardly across the tops of the central line of knitting needles into position for catching thereon any of the plated yarns which may be projected into proper position by the yarn feed guides 90 to 22 inclusive, for Wrapping the yarn thereof upon the predetermined needle which may be elevated, as will be subsequently described.

The -jack actuated cams mounted in the blocks 20 and 2l are operated in substantially the same manner as described in my co-pending applications above referred to, off the drum 0i. 'I'hat is, a number of levers 205 are pivoted at 20G, as shown in Figure l3 of the drawings. One end. of each of these levers is actuated by the drum 0l by means of lugs arranged in predetermined manner upon the drum 2l, as shown in Figure 12 for knitting the pattern shown in Figure 18; the opposite ends of the said levers 202 being connected by suitable rods 201i to bell 'crank levers 202 which are pivotally mounted in suitable brackets 209 secured upon the frame of the machine; the said bell crank levers 202 actuating against suitable pins upon the jack actuating cams mounted in the blocks and 5l shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. The spring 60a normally urge the said cams into butt actuating position with the jacks of the set F, and the lugs upon the drum tl actuate the levers 205 and thru the rods 2071 and levers 200 springs are permitted to move the cams into such butt actuating relation, as can readily be understood.

Two typical set-ups shown in Figures 17 and 20 are adapted to be used in knitting the plated designs shown in Figures 18 and 21 respectively.

Referring to the set-up shown' in Figure 17 for knitting the type of fabric L shown in Figure 18, the set of jacks F are provided with special series X and Y as above described, which are so manipulated by the cams 53 to 00 inclusive as to incorporate two distinctly different colored yarns within a single plated design, knitting color within` color, as such arrangement is referred to in the art. In the 'fabric L the body yarn' has a diamond-shaped design plated therein, using the wrap needle method, with an additional yarn of other color knitted therein. Thus, the diamondshaped border of the design is a green yarn, and the yarn interknitted within this border is a blue yarn. AdditionalV colored yarns may be knitted into the design in the same courses with the other colored yarns by providing other yarn feeds and actuating cams upon the rotary bobbin stand, as can readily be understood.

In the cam block 50 the ve cams 52 to 5l? inclusive are disposed so as to actuate respectively the jacks having butts M to 20 inclusive, in order to elevate the respective needles thereabove for taking' the green plating yarns 212.0 The green plating yarns are fed from the bobbins '02; it being understood that the bobbin stand is provided with a bobbin for each of the yarn feed guides 90 to 22 inclusive. In the particular pattern two bobbins of green yarn are provided and two bobbins of, blue yarn, Figure 3 shows the bobbins with the green and blue yarns extended downwardly thru the sleeve of the standand slidably through ducts provided radially through the rotary base 22 and thence upwardly through slack yarn take-up devices 2li, mounted on top of each of the yarn feed guides to 93 inclusive; the yarns being continued downwardly, as shown in Figure 3 in position to be wrapped .about needles 22 as the latter are elevated by the cams in the block 20 or 5l, when the yarn feed guide is projected, as is shown in Figure 3 of the draw'-V ings. 'I'he green .yarns are ,of course threaded through the yarn feed guides 20 and 0l, and the blue yarns are similarly arranged and fed to the needles through the yarn feed guides 22 and 92.

In the sequence of knitting the design of the fabric L, the lug arrangement which is used on the drum 2l is shown in Figure 12 of the drawings. The cam 52 will first be thrown into butt elevating position by the dropping of the lever 205 through which the cam 52 is controlled into a notch 225 on the drum, which engages only the jacks 2f having butts 02 at that level, elevating them. Previously the yarn feed arm projecting cam l l5 shown in Figure 16 had been thrown out through the actuating mechanisml above described. As shown in Figure 17 the yarn feedl guides 20 and 22 are respectively provided with green and blue yarns for feed to the needles above the special series of jacks X, and the yarn feed guides 2l and 22 feed their respective yarns to the needles above the special series of jacks Y. The cam -l l5 4shown in Figure 17 will therefore project the yarn feed guides 20 and 2E so that the green yarns will be caught upon the wire tgl immediately in advance of the elevation of the needles below the jack 2l having the special butt 02, so that the needle will have the green yarn wrapped thereon before the yarn slips olf the wire l2l as the cylinder and `bobbin stand continue their rotation. In the fabric L this produces the plating stitches 220". Thereafter the cam. 20 is thrown into jack actuating position by dropping of. its lever mechanism into the notch 222 shown in Figure 14 of the drawings, which elevates the two needles having jacks with the butts i2 of each of the series X and Y for taking the green yarns in the manner above described and knitting of stitches 220 shown in the fabric L of Figure 18. During the knitting of these four courses wherein the stitches 220 and 22i appear the cam l f5 remains thrown into yarn feed guide actuating position. Thereafter both of the yarn feed guide actuating cams l l5 and H20 are thrown into yarn feed guide actuating position as shown in Figures i6 and ll. 22, and 2l! are successively thrown into jack actuating position by the respective dropping of their lever mechanisms into the spaces 2268, 222, and 222 for the knitting of the plating stitches 222, 222, and 222 out of the green yarns. Simultaneous with the respective throwing of the cams 22, 22, and 2li into jack elevating position the cams 20, 22, and 00 are thrown into jack elevating position for elevating the jacks of the special series X and Y having butts 02, 22, and 20 respectively, in order to knit in the fabric L the stitches 222, 222, and 2211, which respectively appear in the same courses of the fabric L as the Thereafter the cams 55,

green yarn stitches 222, 222, and 220. The stitches by dropping of their respective lever mechanisms into the lug spaces 229, 229e, and 229i. As has been described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 591,689, a needle and jack lowering cam 240 is provided to lower the needles and jacks which have been elevated by any of the cams 53 to 51 inclusive after the needles actuated thereby have taken the green yarn, at a time prior to elevation of any of the needles by the cams 58, 59, and 60, so that there will be no interference of the needles which take the green yarn, with the blue yarn. This cam 240a is of course Very important in that it directly permits the knitting of color within color in a plated design. Thereafter the stitches 238 and 239 of the blue plating yarn 240 are knitted upon the needles actuated by the cams 59 and 58 respectively, whose lever mechanisms are actuated off the drum spaces 24| and 242, shown in Figure 14. YThe green plated portion of the design is completed as to the stitches 245, 246, 241, and 248, by successive operation of the cams 56, 55, 54, and 53, whose respective lever mechanisms are successively ac tuated off the pattern control drum spaces 250, 25|, 252, and 253. Of course, the cam lugs on the pattern striping drum |5| may be such as to maintain both the yarn feed guide actuating cams ||5 and |20 in yarn projecting relation at all times, for the particular design shown in the fabric L, although there are instances in the knitting of plated designs using color within color, when one of the cams ||5 or |20 should be in inoperative position. That arrangement of parts is shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

It is quite apparent that a greater or less number of jack elevating cams may be employed in either of the cam blocks or 5|, depending upon the plated design or striping which it is desired will appear in the fabric, and many and varied complicated patterns, designs, stripes, and contrasting yarn figures may be knitted in plated relation after the wrap needle method with the improved machine of this invention.

Figure 20 shows a somewhat modified arrangement for knitting of plated designs and pattern effects, although this arrangement will not permit of knitting one colored yarn in contrasting effect within a plated design of another color, in the same courses of knitting. The striped and pattern effects may be secured by utilizing contrastingly colored yarns, but the said yarns are not knitted together in the same course. Thus in Figure 21 the two diamond designs indicated at 255 are knitted with a green plating yarn and the other striped and design plated portions 256 are knitted with the blue plating yarn. The arrangement shown in Figure 20 contemplates only one cam block having a plurality of cams 251 therein of any desired number, which are five in number in the example shown, but which may be a greater or less number depending upon the number of needles which it is desired to include in the special jack series. In this arrangement the projecting cams ||5 and |20 are located one above the other on the rotary bobbin stand so that they will project the yarn feed guides for the contrasting green and blue plating yarns at the same location, but not at the same time, since only one or the other of the cams I|5 and |20 is in yarn feed guide projecting relation at any one time, as can readily be understood. This permits of a simpler arrangement inasmuch as it is not necessary to employ a plurality of jack actuating cam blocks and the attendant Cam level actuating mechanism.

As will be noted from Figure 1 of the drawings the cam 240a above described is actuated off a bellcrank lever 260 connected to a lever mechanism 26| which is actuated off the usual pattern control drum 262. The connecting rod 20| shown in Figures l and 6 of the drawings is connected with this rod 26| so as to throw the plating yarn restraining wires |9| into position at the same time that the cam 24|)a is thrown into position. If desired these wires |9| may be operated off the pattern control drum independent of the cam 240e, as may be required when knitting some special plated patterns.

A very important feature of the invention is the fact that there will be no necessity for resetting parts of the machine and particularly the plating arrangement in event it becomes necessary to lift the carrier or latch ring, since the entire stationary and rotary parts of the bobbin stand and plating yarn control mechanism are mounted so as to facilitate the usual lifting and lowering operations of the said latch ring without other operations.

Another important feature of the invention is the yarn slack take-up mechanism mounted directly upon the rotary yarn feed arms.

The usual set of needle actuated cams is provided, including the stitch cams 265. The body yarn |45 may be fed to the needles by one or more of the conventional yarn guides |42; the yarns being knitted in the fabric at the knitting point 261. The cams and parts shown in the drawings which are not described are conventional.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine the combination of a rotary needle supporting cylinder, a rotary bobbin stand, yarns upon the bobbin stand, independently movable feed members rotatable with the bobbin stand, means to selectively move said members into yarn feed relation with the needles of the cylinder, and means movable with and directly on each of said members for taking up slack yarn at the feeding end of the said yarn.

2. In a yarn feeding device for knitting machines the combination of a support, a rotary bobbin stand mounted upon the support, a reciprocating radially movable yarn feed member, cam means for projecting the member in yarn feeding relation, and a slack yarn take-up directly mounted on the member for taking up slack yarn at the feed end thereof.

3..In a knitting machine the combination of a set of independently movable needles, means to feed a body yarn thereto to knit fabric, means to manipulate separate needles of a certain group of needles to receive a wrapping thread With floats of the wrapped thread extending across the back of the intermediate needles, means to feed upon some or all of the needles of the same group which did not receive the first wrapping thread and in the same knitted courses therewith a second wrapping thread with floats extending across the back of any intermediate needles, said wrap yarn feeding means comprising reciprocably slidable yarn carriers, and selective means for independently moving the same into and out of yarn feeding relation with the needle manipulating means.

4. In a knitting machine the combination of "a set of independently movable needles, means to feed a body yarn thereto to` knit fabric, means to manipulate separate needles of a certain group of needles to receive a wrap thread with oats 0f the Wrap thread extending across the back of intermediate needles, means to manipulate other needles of the said group which did not receive the flrstwrap thread for receiving a second wrap thread with floats thereof extending'across the back of any intermediate needles, restraining members coacting with the last two mentioned means movably mounted for movement into and out of yarn receiving relation with their respective wrap threads, and pattern control means for actuating said restraining members in a cooperative relation with the needle elevation.

5. In a knitting machine the combination of a cylinder having independently movable needles therein, a rotary bobbin and yarn feed support including yarn feed members and means to move them into position for feeding yarn upon predetermined elevated needles, means to selectively elevate the needles in such predetermined relation for receiving the yarns from said feed members, and a yarn restraining device cooperating with the said feed members in restraining yarn for the application thereof upon the selected elevated needles, said yarn restraining device being movable to a position inside of the line of needles to restrain the yarn as fed by the yarn feed members, means normally retracting the yarn restraining device to a non-interfering relation with needle elevation to a position outside of the needle line, and pattern controlled means for moving the yarn restraining member into its effective yarn restraining relation with respect to the yarn fed by said feed members.

6. In a knitting machine, the combination of a rotary needle cylinder, an independent needle set therefor, means to selectively elevate the needles in the set, a, wrap yarn feed member movable above the needle line into yarn feeding relation with respect to elevated needles, a movable yarn restraining member for holding the wrap yarn in position so that only the needle or raising the needles selectively for wrapping, selective means for feeding wrapping yarns to the needles, a wrap yarn restraining member movable into wrap yarn restraining relation with those Wrap yarns'applied to the needles by said selective feeding means for holding a wrap yarn or yarns in position for disposal upon only the needle or needles raised by said means rst mentioned, and pattern controlling means for moving said yarn restraining member into or out of yarn restraining position.

8. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a set of independent needles, means for raising the needles selectively at a plurality of points, means for lowering the needles at a location intermediate said points, selective means for feeding wrap yarns to the needles at each of said points, wrap yarn restraining members at each of said points movable into wrap-yarn restraining relation with those wrap yarns applied to the needles by said selective feeding meansfor holding the respective wrap yarn -or yarns in position for disposal only upon the needle or needles raised by the means first mentioned at each of said points, and pattern controlling means for simultaneously moving said restraining members into or out of wrap yarn restraining position.

HARRY MCADAMS. 

